THERE were major delays as Chester railway station had to be evacuated.

The station was evacuated on Saturday (March 14) just after 8pm due to an overheating train at the station.

Passengers were kept behind barriers as four fire crews from Chester and Ellesmere Port attended the incident.

Earlier, Transport for Wales said: “An ongoing safety incident with a train in a platform at Chester station means that the station has had to be evacuated, as a precaution.

"Emergency services are in attendance.

"All trains using Chester station have been stopped, with a suspension of ALL operators’ train services in force, until the incident is resolved.”

Routes affected by the closure of Chester station included the service to London Euston, Merseyrail services between Chester and Liverpool, and Transport Wales services to Liverpool, Manchester, Wrexham, Shrewsbury, Birmingham and Holyhead.

A spokesman for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Firefighters were called to Chester station shortly after 8pm following reports of an issue with a passenger train.

"The train's engine was overheating and fire crews were called as a precaution.

"The station was evacuated while rail staff dealt with the issue and crews were on scene for just over an hour."